Earlier this summer, I asked you all if you had any suggestions for posts I could write to help you tackle this election. One of those ideas was a list of how to convince someone to vote. I’ll be publishing that post this week, so do keep a look out for it.
But as I put the finishing touches on that post, I thought it was important to take a moment to think about why you, yes you personally, want to vote in this election. After all, as you are trying to convince someone else why THEY should vote, they may very well ask you why YOU are planning to vote.
As for me, I’ve voted ever since I turned 18. I vote because I’m a voter. But this election feels really different. Until these last four years, my primary issues when I went to the polls were gun reform and reproductive rights. But this year, I feel as though what’s on the ballot is a choice between democracy and fascism. I know that sounds dramatic, but those of you who have been reading Political Charge for a while know I’m no drama queen. For the past four years, this quote by David Frum has been a warning for me:
“If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.”
We’ve seen this rejection of democracy all over the country. Between the never-ending avalanche of voter suppression tactics, to never making themselves available to their voters, to middle-of-the-night tactics in state legislatures to curtail the Democrat’s ability to govern, the Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated they have no interest in anything other than having power and using it to enrich themselves and their donors.
There are a lot of problems in this country I want to solve. My young daughters have a long list of things they want to see solved as well. But none of this will be possible if we’re governed by a party that flat-out rejects their citizens. So for me, I am voting in 2020 to make sure America rejects authoritarian rule.
As you think about what your central reason for voting is, I’ll leave you with a few quotes from prominent women about why they’re voting this year that I’ve been posting on my Instagram account. (Source for quotes.)
So tell me, why are you voting in the 2020 election?
Want to win the November elections but are strapped for time? Download my ***NEW*** free guide today: 19 Quick Ways to Turn Out the Vote in 2020. Each action takes 10 minutes or less!
.
Categories: Explainers
I’m voting for women, reproductive rights and to hopefully change our President to someone who is a Statesman, who believes in the country and ALL of us.
Love that, Kate!
Good post, TS! I am voting because not to do so would be to literally throw away our most important right, one that many have died for! I am especially determined to vote in this election because I have seen the path this nation is headed down under a cruel and evil despot, and I want to be a part of making a change in that path. I learned the lessons of history and do not wish to see the 1930s played out on this side of the Atlantic.
Great answer, Jill!
Thanks! 😊
P.S. I was going to re-blog this, but there’s no reblog button?
That’s odd. Let me investigate.
I refreshed it several times, went back a couple of hours later, and still no re-blog button. I may link to it tomorrow.
I’ve asked for help through the help desk — they said they’re experiencing longer delays than usual. It might take 24-48 hours to get a response. For whatever reason, I don’t have the option to add a reblog button right now. (shrugs)
Can you check now and see if you see the WordPress button?
Just checked … still no re-blog button. 🤔 🤷
What happens if you click the WordPress button?
I get a screen asking for the address of my wordpress site and with a “Press This” button. When I put in my address and press the button, it takes me to a screen, but not a typical re-blog screen … it has an option to “publish now”, but not being the screen I’m used to, I hesitate to do that … there is no option to write an intro blurb or anything.
Argh. I recently installed a plugin for the first time, and learned that WP took away the reblog button (and a few other things) when I did that. Not sure why that functionality would be taken away. I have to hope that the WP button allows people to reblog, but understand your hesitation in trying it.
That’s why I haven’t installed the ‘classic editor’ plug-in, because it would take away my “follow” button! For every thing they give us, they take something we’re used to away! I will try the WP button later today … I can always kill it if it doesn’t come out right! Thanks!
Let me know how it goes — and thanks for sticking with me!
Okay … good news and not-so-good news. The good news is using the WP button, we can do more with the ‘re-blog’, such as change the header image, and most importantly, schedule the re-blog, something I have always wished for! The downside is that it doesn’t put any of your post on mine, but only a link to yours. I always thought having that first paragraph or two was important, rather a teaser to make the reader want to read the rest. We’ll see how it goes … I’ll check the 24-hour stats tomorrow to see if it got about the same number of views I would expect.
Interesting. Thanks for the update!
Another problem … 5 or 6 of my readers have liked this post on my blog, but the “Like” button seems to have disappeared from your original post!!!
Sigh. I seriously wonder what else is gone.
In fact, I just checked, and there is no “Like” button on any of your posts!
🙁
I’m voting for women’s rights and to elect a president who isn’t racist, etc and actually cares about the people and country he serves. Also, someone who I can trust to be responsible about the pandemic.
Good list!
I have an even longer one, but I didn’t want to scare you!
You can’t scare me with reasons to vote!
I am voting because it is a duty of citizenship. The person in the WH is exactly what my grandfather raised me not to be. Grandpa would have strung trump up by his heels from the nearest hay hook and thrown rotten eggs at him.
I’m voting because I want to live in a country where elected officials tell the truth. I want to live in a country where those leaders will work hard to keep my family safe and healthy.
Those are fantastic reasons, Robin. We should all live in a country with politicians like that.